A WARM WELCOME AWAITS AT WELLPARK
One of Orkney’s longest-standing homegrown family businesses, Wellpark Garden Centre, has changed a lot since the business began in 1969, transforming from a greengrocer, to a florist, to a one-stop-shop with something for all.
The centre has, over the years, risen to become one of the county’s most diverse and popular places to visit. As well as stocking everything a gardener could need, Wellpark has a soft-play area to entertain the children, a popular café, a range of giftware, and all things pets.
It all began with the grandparents of current managers Kirsten and Sarah Glue, who bought a grocery shop on Albert Street all those years ago. Donald senior and Helen Glue then started to buy extra land on Mill Street, where they set up a nursery to grow plants, flowers and tomatoes for selling in the shop.
Over time, it became less about the food, and more about floristry, as the nursery expanded to include more greenhouses and a shop.
When their son, Donald junior and his wife Teesh got involved in the business in 1970, they began to turn the nursery into a garden centre. Later, after finishing a college course in Perth, their daughter Kirsten found herself working at Dobbies — and when the opportunity arose to use their old building, it was dismantled, transported to Orkney, and rebuilt in 2003, where Wellpark stands now. Sarah qualified with a degree in business studies and moved back to manage the business alongside Kirsten.
“It has changed a lot over the years,” says Kirsten.
“There have been lots of additions. “I would have said that my grandparents and my father probably didn’t stock quite as diverse a range as we do now.
“We’re more like a destination centre, because we’ve got pet stuff and furniture, foodie things, gifts, candles, presents, and also fish.”
Building the business to this level of diversity has been a gradual process over the years, as the
Glues have always been on the lookout for ways to add to Wellpark.
Of the many elements to be added to Wellpark since then, the soft-play area is the newest.
The biggest of its kind in Orkney, it has three separate levels to let the kids blow off some steam, while parents can relax in the café.
Beyond that, the centre also boasts the Willows Coffee Shop, which has been serving tasty lunches, teas, coffees and scrumptious cakes since 2004. Whether stopping for refreshments during a shopping trip in the centre, or popping in for lunch or coffee and cake with friends, a warm welcome and great service will always be found.
As for the most popular parts of the business, Kirsten says: “The café definitely is very consistent for us. We get a lot of regulars now, who come in the mornings for their cuppa.
“Definitely that would be a big draw, and the soft-play for the kids.
“Then for the diehard gardener, I’d say we probably cover most bases for that.”